James Gunn’s Batman Decision Will Cause More Harm Than Good To The DCU

James Gunn is working hard to revamp the DC Universe after becoming CEO of DC Studios. It’s a difficult task after the DCU’s hit-and-miss success since its launch, which has left it miles behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, in Batman and Superman, the DCU has two of the most popular characters in cinematic history.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting Gunn’s decision on how to integrate Batman into his plans, as his early focus has been on Superman. However, Gunn’s decision has left many people baffled and confused, as audiences are unsure if it will have the positive impact he hopes it will.

Related

DC: Oldest Batman Versions In The Movies, Ranked

Batman’s on-screen evolution over the years is truly fascinating. Here are the oldest live-action portrayals of the iconic superhero.

What Has James Gunn Decided About Batman?

In 2022, Robert Pattinson donned the iconic black mask and outfit as the lead star in The Batman. It was a gritty take on the classic superhero and a film that proved popular with audiences. After hitting an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.8/10 score on IMDb, most audiences presumed that Pattinson would be continuing on with the role in Gunn’s DCU. The Batman Part II has already been confirmed, but that is not going to have anything to do with the DCU after all.

Variety reported that Gunn has said it is “very unlikely” that Pattinson will be part of the DCU or will star in the upcoming movie, The Brave and the Bold, which will feature Batman within this universe properly for the first time. He said, “I wouldn’t rule anything out; he could show up in something else. But the actor doesn’t exist [yet].” It created a huge stir among comic book fans who had been hoping to see Pattinson integrate with the DCU due to how well he performed in that role. However, Gunn is evidently heading down a different path with the character, which means there will be two actors playing the part at the same time.

Having Multiple Batman’s Could Cause Burnout And Confusion

Having two Batman’s existing at the same time is something that might seem like a comic book fan’s dream, but in reality, this will probably hurt both movies. That, in turn, will negatively impact the DCU, which is something Gunn can ill-afford at the moment. There is only so much Batman content that moviegoers can take, and while the movies will likely be spread out, it is going to stretch that particular aspect of the market heavily. If Gunn’s choice of actor doesn’t live up to what Pattinson does, it will lead to further issues, as audiences will naturally compare the two versions to see what is best.

Another big problem with Gunn casting his own version of Batman is that it could cause genuine confusion for audiences. While diehard fans will be able to differentiate between the two storylines and how the characters behave, that won’t be the cause for everyone. There will be many people who expect to see Pattinson turn up in other DCU films, such as a potential Justice League movie, or they will believe that certain storylines are going to happen in one film when it’s actually for the other. This is the type of situation that wouldn’t happen with Marvel, and right now, that is the difference in quality. It’s showcasing a lack of forward planning, and the possibility of confusion is something that DC Studios should be actively avoiding, given the franchise needs to be pushed in a positive direction right now.

James Gunn Should Have Tapped Into The Current Batman

The decision not to use Pattinson has struck most people as odd, given his version of the character is already established and has proven to be popular. Audiences have enjoyed how Pattinson took on the role, and the movie itself was a hit. The Batman made $772 million at the box office against a budget of $185-200 million, which made it the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2022. On top of that, the movie also received three nominations for the 95th Academy Awards, showcasing that it was a hit from a critical perspective at the same time. That’s why it’s a strange decision not to tap into this version of the character because all the signs are pointing toward it being a hit.

On top of that, Colin Farrell’s Penguin is already intertwined with Pattinson’s version of Batman, which means it’s also unlikely Gunn will be tapping into that. This is another blow to the DCU as that show, and Farrell’s version of Penguin has been extremely popular among fans. Gunn obviously has his own ideas for what he wants Batman to look and feel like in the DCU. However, the decision to overlook Pattinson could end up having a negative impact, and getting a character as important as Batman wrong could be a situation the DCU won’t recover from.

Batman

Created by

Bob Kane, Bill Finger

First Film

Batman: The Movie

Upcoming Films

The Batman – Part II